In an early look at the 2016 presidential race in Iowa, Secretary Clinton leads Gov. Christie
48 - 35 percent, reversing a 45 - 40 percent Christie lead December 17, according to a
Quinnipiac University poll released today.

Secretary Clinton has substantial leads over other Republican contenders, the
independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds:

49 - 39 percent over U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky;

51 - 35 percent over U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas;

51 - 37 percent over former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida.

Independent voters shift from 44 - 35 percent for Christie in December to 46 - 32 percent
for Clinton today. In fact, Clinton has leads of 12 to 22 percentage points among independent
voters in the other matchups.

"Politics is a team sport and the head of the blue team, President Barack Obama, isn't
doing well in the eyes of Iowans. But that doesn't seem to be hurting teammate Hillary Clinton
who swamps potential 2016 Republican competitors among the same electorate," said Peter
Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.

"So much, at least for now, for conventional wisdom that as the president's popularity
goes, so goes Democratic hopes for 2016," Brown added.

Iowa voters say 55 - 38 percent that Clinton would make a good president, the only listed
candidate to get a positive score.

Christie would not make a good president, voters say 41 - 36 percent, reversing a
positive 46 - 30 percent score December 17.

"Who said, 'All politics is local?' Secretary Clinton is benefitting from the fallout after a
traffic jam a thousand miles away," said Brown. "When Quinnipiac University surveyed Iowans
last December, Gov. Christopher Christie was the lead reindeer. But after the coverage of the
George Washington Bridge lane closures, his nose is not so bright. Like the other GOP hopefuls,
he now trails Clinton by double digits."
U.S. Senate Race

Congressman Braley gets a 35 - 18 percent favorability rating, while 46 percent of Iowa
voters don't know enough about him to form an opinion. For the Republicans, 77 to 85 percent
of voters don't know enough about the candidates to form an opinion.

"The curse of President Obama's low approval does not seem to be hurting U.S. Rep.
Braley as he campaigns for the U.S. Senate seat which opens up as Sen. Tom Harkin retires,"
Brown said.

From March 5 - 10, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,411 registered voters with a
margin of error of +/- 2.6 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia,
Colorado, Iowa and the nation as a public service and for research.

For more information, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, call (203) 582-5201, or
follow us on Twitter.

4. If the election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Bruce Braley the Democrat and Matt Whitaker the Republican, for whom would you vote?